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the third period but Fekete scored 45 seconds into the period, Charles added a power play goal and Fekete wrapped up the scoring with 3:09 remaining in the game as the Eagles rebounded from a loss to Denver East in last season’s championship game.
“Certainly the power play goal was a big one for us and the early goal in the third period was obviously huge,” said Gwozdecky. “ ese guys have worked really hard to get back to this game. ey sensed with 17 minutes to go that it was their game if they wanted it.”
Gwozdecky was returning to Magness Arena after 19 years as University of Denver hockey coach where he coached two NCAA title teams.
“ is was home for 19 years,” he said. “It’s kind of nice to be back here, winning a game.”
It took some adjustments for Gwozdecky when he accepted the Valor job before the start of the 201516 season. e Eagles went 10-9-1 that rst campaign and Valor lost 10-1 to Ralston Valley in the state playo s.
“I had no idea what was in store for me that rst year at Valor,” Gwozdecky recalled. “ e administration was so patient with me. I had no experience at all at the high school level. I thought I knew what I was doing, but I was completely (out of my element). It wasn’t the X’s and O’s I’m talking about, but the running of the program at the high school level on an everyday basis and learning how to deal with knucklehead high school boys.
“All of a sudden I’ve got guys who can’t make practice because they have a job, or have a dentist appointment, or had Boy Scouts. I was like, ‘What?”
Gwozdecky will be facing another challenge next season at Valor.
“Most of the guys are seniors this year,” he said. “We’re going to really have to reload. We have some guys that we will be moving up but we also have a number of kids that are going to school at Valor who knew they couldn’t make the Valor varsity team and played club hockey. And they are going to want to play high school hockey next year.”